Stand, system, and method for displaying framed photographs at varying elevations

ABSTRACT

A stand, system, and method to securely elevate and secure picture frames while maximizing the viewable surface areas of the framed pictures when presented on living room tables or any other equivalent surfaces where multiple frames are presented for viewing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/723,339, filed Nov. 7, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a stand, system, and method to securely elevate and secure picture frames while maximizing the viewable surface areas of the framed pictures when presented on living room tables or any other equivalent surfaces where multiple frames are presented for viewing.

BACKGROUND

Various picture frames are often simultaneously displayed on a single piece of furniture in the household or office. Often, these simultaneously displayed picture frames will have varying shapes and dimensions which will inevitably cause one frame to obscure the picture contained in an adjacent frame.

There is therefore a need for a stand, system, and method for displaying one or more adjacently situated picture frames so that the frames do not hide or obstruct a picture contained in one or more adjacent frames.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the disclosure nor delineate the scope of the stand, system, and method disclosed herein. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The stand, system, and method disclosed herein address the problems that are encountered when too many picture frames are being presented on the same viewing area. Generally, the stand, system, and method disclosed herein secures and retains frames of various shapes and dimensions, including but not limited to round, square, rectangle, triangular, oval, and hexagonal frames.

Generally, the stand disclosed herein provides a means for securing and retaining any type of picture frame leg, including but not limited to straight frame legs protruding from the upper or middle region of the frame. Alternatively, the stand disclosed herein may secure and retain a picture frame having one or more angular legs protruding from the upper left side to the lower right side of the picture frame back and vice-versa.

The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative aspects of the disclosure. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the stand, system, and method disclosed herein may be employed and the stand, system, and method disclosed herein is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features of the stand, system, and method disclosed herein will become apparent from the following detailed description of the stand, system, and method disclosed herein when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of several picture frames being displayed without utilizing the stand, system, and method disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of several picture frames being displayed while utilizing the stand, system, and method disclosed herein.

FIG. 3 is another view of several picture frames being displayed while utilizing the stand, system, and method disclosed herein.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the stand disclosed herein for securing and retaining a picture frame.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the stand disclosed herein for securing and retaining a picture frame.

FIG. 6 illustrates a rear view of a picture frame secured and retained within the stand disclosed herein.

FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of a picture frame secured and retained within the stand disclosed herein.

FIG. 8 illustrates another rear view of a picture frame having an alternative dimension, secured and retained within the stand disclosed herein.

FIG. 9 illustrates a top perspective view of two stands disclosed herein which can be attached and detached to create a higher elevation for a picture frame secure thereon.

FIG. 10 illustrates a bottom perspective view of two stands disclosed herein which can be attached and detached to create a higher elevation for a picture frame secure thereon.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The stand, system, and method disclosed herein will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the system and method disclosed herein are shown. The stand, system, and method disclosed herein may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the stand, system, and method disclosed herein to those skilled in the art.

As shown in FIG. 1, when a plurality of picture frames 100 are placed in proximity to one another, the most forward positioned frames would inevitably block those frames situated behind them. As further shown in FIG. 1, the second and third rows of framed pictures are not clearly visible when viewed from afar.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when utilizing the stand and system of the present invention, the exposure of these second and third rows of framed pictures becomes more prominent. As illustrated, the stand, system, and method disclosed herein provides a discreet system for displaying the framed pictures 100 at multiple levels of elevation, wherein the stand or plurality of stands securing the respective frames remains obscured behind the frames, regardless of whether viewed from the front or the side of the viewing table.

The stand 10 disclosed herein can be constructed from any variety of colors or materials to better match the viewing table or furniture 200 upon which the stand is situated. For example, if the stand is to be viewed on a dark wood table, the stand can be constructed of a similar wood grain and finish so that the stand itself becomes less pronounced when viewed. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the stand 10 can also be sized in order to accommodate and secure picture frames 100 of varying sizes and shapes, thus enabling the user of the stand, system, and method disclosed herein to showcase picture frames 100 behind each other on a viewing table or equivalent structure 200 while maximizing the “eye level view” of the images captured by the framed pictures. Stand 10 may include a top surface 12, a bottom surface 14, and a plurality of side surfaces 16. The top surface 12 and bottom surface 14 may be substantially parallel to one another, and the plurality of side surfaces 16 may be substantially normal to the top and bottom surfaces. Other shapes and orientations are contemplated within the disclosure, for instance one or more of the surfaces 12, 14, 16 may have a curvature.

In one embodiment, the stand 10 disclosed herein is shaped to safely secure picture frames of small-medium and large sizes, included but not limited to 4×6, 5×7, 8×10 picture frames.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, in a preferred embodiment, the stand 10 may be diamond-shaped or triangular-shaped. Alternatively, the stand disclosed herein may comprise a trapezium, circle, square, rectangular, oval, and hexagonal shape or form. Embodiments of the stand 10 disclosed herein may be comprised of one or more of a variety of materials that are suitable for placing upon a viewing table or equivalent structure 200, including but not limited to wood, glass, Plexiglas, plastic, stainless steel and rubber.

In another embodiment, the stand 10 disclosed herein may comprise any varieties of colors or coatings to better serve the aesthetic desires of the user. For example, design patterns such as seasonal themes could be painted to or adorned on the outer surface of the stand. In yet another embodiment, the stand may also display logos or artwork on its outer surface. For example, the outer surface of the stand may be adorned with university logos, sports entertainment logos (for college and professional sports teams), or aesthetic artwork. In yet another embodiment, an anti-skid coating may be applied to the bottom surface of the stand to further enhance the stand's stability and grip.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 8, the stand disclosed herein may securely hold frames 100 both horizontally or vertically. In one embodiment, a plurality of raised members or pegs 20 situated along the upper border or rim 30 of the stand enables frames of various lengths and angles to be secured to the upper surface of the stand. As further illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 8, these raised pegs 20 retain both the bottom of the frame and frame leg within the stand's upper rim, thus securely holding the frame in place. Cavities or areas 22 between raised members 20 may accommodate portions of picture frame 200, such as the edge of the frame or the picture frame leg. Cavities 22 may be co-planar with upper rim 30, or may be lie on a separate plane, for instance further recessed below both raised members 22 and upper rim 30. One or more raised members 20 may be extensions of a side wall 16.

In yet another embodiment, the stand further comprises a plurality of holes formed in the upper rim of the stand wherein additional raised pegs or members can be attached in order to accommodate various desired angles in which the picture frame can be situated and retained.

As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, in yet another embodiment, a plurality of stands 10 can be stacked on top of one another. As shown, in this embodiment, the top of a first display stand 10A can be interlocked and secured to the bottom of a second display stand 10B. In this embodiment, a first display stand further comprises an interlocking peg approximately centered on the top surface of the first display stand.

The interlocking peg 40 of the first display stand 10A is a male counterpart to a female recess 50 which is approximately centered on the bottom surface 14 of a second display stand 10B to which the first display stand is attached and secured. The interlocking peg 40 and corresponding peg recess 50 can be of any geometric shapes, including but not limited to hexagonal, round, square, triangular, or oval. In addition to providing a means for interlocking and stacking two or more display stands, the interlocking peg 40 also acts to further secure a framed picture situated on top of the display stand.

Utilizing this embodiment, the height of the frames secured and retained in the display stand can be raised or lowered as desired by either adding or removing one or more display stands from this stacked configuration. For example, a user may utilize a single display stand in the second row of framed pictures, two stacked display stands in the third row of framed pictures, and three stacked display stands in the fourth row.

The foregoing description of possible implementations consistent with the stand, system, and method disclosed herein does not represent a comprehensive list of all such implementations or all variations of the implementations described. The description of only some implementation should not be construed as an intent to exclude other implementations. For example, artisans will understand how to implement the stand, system, and method disclosed herein in many other ways, using equivalents and alternatives that do not depart from the scope of the stand, system, and method disclosed herein. Moreover, unless indicated to the contrary in the preceding description, none of the components described in the implementations are essential to the stand, system, and method disclosed herein. It is thus intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only.

The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may also be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein and that does not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A stand for displaying a picture frame having a picture frame leg, said stand comprising, a top surface; an upper rim including a plurality of raised members projecting away from the top surface, the plurality of raised members collectively dimensioned and positioned to hold the picture frame and the picture frame leg to the top surface; an interlocking peg projecting away from the top surface; a bottom surface on an opposed side of the stand from the top surface; a recess provided on the bottom surface; and a plurality of side surfaces between the top and bottom surfaces.
 2. The stand of claim 1, wherein the recess and the interlocking peg have corresponding dimensions such that an additional interlocking peg, having substantially the same dimensions as the interlocking peg, would matably fit into the recess.
 3. The stand of claim 2, wherein the interlocking peg is substantially centered on the top surface, and the recess is substantially centered on the bottom surface.
 4. The stand of claim 2, wherein the interlocking peg projects in a direction substantially normal to the top surface.
 5. The stand of claim 1, wherein the plurality of raised members are portions of the plurality of side surface projecting beyond the top surface.
 6. The stand of claim 5, wherein the top surface and bottom surface are substantially parallel, and the plurality of side surfaces are substantially normal to the top surface and the bottom surface.
 7. The stand of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of cavities formed in said upper rim.
 8. The stand of claim 7 further comprising one or more raised pegs detachably secured to any one of said plurality of cavities.
 9. The stand of claim 7, wherein each raised member has at least one cavity.
 10. The stand of claim 1 further comprising display logos or artwork adorning one or more of said plurality of side surfaces.
 11. The stand of claim 1 further comprising an anti-skid coating applied to said bottom surface.
 12. A system for displaying a picture frame having a picture frame leg, said system comprising: a first stand having a top surface, bottom surface, a plurality of side surfaces, said top surface further comprising an upper rim said upper rim further comprising a plurality of raised members for securing and retaining said picture frame and picture frame leg to said top surface of said stand, said top surface further comprising an interlocking peg approximately centered on said top surface, and said bottom surface further comprising a recess approximately centered on said bottom surface; a second stand having a top surface, bottom surface, a plurality of side surfaces, said top surface further comprising an upper rim said upper rim further comprising a plurality of raised members for securing and retaining said picture frame and picture frame leg to said top surface of said stand, said top surface further, comprising an interlocking peg approximately centered on said top surface; and said interlocking peg of said first stand secured to and retained in said recess of said second stand so that said interlocked first and second stand provides a stand of increased height.
 13. The system of claim 13, wherein the bottom surface of the second stand further comprises a recess approximately centered on said bottom surface.
 14. A method for displaying a picture frame having a picture frame leg, said method comprising the steps of: providing a first stand having a top surface, bottom surface, a plurality of side surfaces, said top surface further comprising an upper rim said upper rim further comprising a plurality of raised members for securing and retaining said picture frame and picture frame leg to said top surface of said stand, said top surface further, comprising an interlocking peg approximately centered on said top surface, and said bottom surface further comprising a recess approximately centered on said bottom surface; providing a second stand having a top surface, bottom surface, a plurality of side surfaces, said top surface further comprising an upper rim said upper rim further comprising a plurality of raised members for securing and retaining said picture frame and picture frame leg to said top surface of said stand, said top surface further, comprising an interlocking peg approximately centered on said top surface; and securing and retaining said interlocking peg of said first stand to said recess of said second stand so that said interlocked first and second stand provides a stand of increased height. 